In part 1 of this series I discussed how a believer’s new identity in Christ should lead him to focus on things above, and how it provides hope in a person’s present struggles. Paul continues in the passage by telling his readers what they should further do as a result of their new identity. He writes beginning in verse 5:
5 Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you to once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.
Paul in forms his readers in this section that their old way of living must be put to death. He says “put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you (v. 5a).” So, how does a person accomplish this task of putting to death earthly desires? A person’s sinful desires work like a large bonfire. If you take a pile of wood, set it on fire, and then do not add anymore wood to the fire, eventually the fire will die out and leave only a pile of ash. If, however, you continue to add fuel to the fire, it will only get larger and larger. In the same way a person’s sinful desires will die if the person does not continue to participate in the sinful activity. But as long as he throws fuel on the fire by engaging in the sinful act, he will allow the desire to burn more fiercely inside of him. If a person wants to put to death his sinful desires, he must starve the fiery passions and refuse to throw more fuel on the fire. Eventually the desires will subside, leaving a smoldering pile of coals. And as anyone who has been around a camp fire knows, those coals can spark another fire at anytime. The person must be vigilant in his starving of the fire, even when it seems that he has defeated the sin. The act of putting to death the earthly desire in us is an on going process until the Lord returns.
Paul then provides the first of two list of earthly desires which must be put to death. The list includes sexual immorality, impurity, passion, and evil desires, all of which seem to be related. They all seem to relate in some way to sexual sin. But then he also adds to this list covetousness. The question must be asked then, “how does covetousness relate to the other four items in the list?” Many scholars have said that coveting lies beneath all the other commandments. In other words, if one does not covet, then he will not break the other nine commands. For example, if a person does not covet his neighbor’s things, then he will not be tempted to make a god out of them, and worship them as his idol. Or, if a man does not covet his neighbor’s money, then he will not be tempted to steel it from him. And also , if a man does not covet his neighbor’s wife, then he will not commit adultery with her. So, coveting does fit in this list, and would fit in any list of vices. Verse 6 next tells us of the judgement that is coming to those who practice these things. Paul says, “On account of these the wrath of God is coming (v. 6).” All those who practice these things, refusing to repent, will have the wrath of God poured out upon them. This verse serves as a warning to people and a call to repent. Only through repentance and faith in Christ can a person avoid the coming wrath of God. Paul then reminds his readers, “in these you to once walked, when you were living in them (v. 7).” The important thing to note in this verse is the tense of the verbs: once walked, and were living. He is telling them that they once lived in these sinful ways, which implies that they are no longer controlled by these desires. These people have been set free because of their new identity in Christ. Finally, Paul concludes, “but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices (vv. 8-9).” As a result of a person’s new identity in Christ he must put off the old self with all its attitudes, desires, speech, and actions. He cannot continue to live as the world lives, feeding his own passions and desires.
But how does a person accomplish this? How does a person defeat the overwhelming desires and passions of his heart? This putting to death of the earthly desires can only be achieved by remembering how you received your new identity. You must day-by-day meditate long and hard on the gospel, allowing it to stir the affections of your heart until they burn hot. You can only expel the sinful affections of your heart through the expulsive power of a new and greater affection. If you want to put off the old self, then you must look to the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. See the torn flesh on his back. See the crown of thorns on his head. See the nails in his hands and the spear in his side. See him hanging there forsaken and rejected. See him hanging there doing the will of his Father, providing a way for you and me to have fellowship with God. See him there, and worship in aww struck wonder because of how much he loved you. When you see the cross for what it is, then all the earthly desire in the world will pale in comparison. A person’s new identity should result in the taking off of the old self, but it should also result in the putting on of the new self. The final part in this series will discuss what Paul has to say about this process in verses 10-17.